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The Birman's coat is long and non-matting (unlike the Persian whose coat requires frequent combing)
Although it is a pointed cat, the points are not completely solid (like the Siamese). The tips of the toes evenly marked white (referred to as "gloves") with this white continuing up the backs of the legs (referred to as "laces"). These gloves and laces must be even and symmetrical; an ungloved toe, incorrect areas of white on the feet, or uneven laces are causes for disqualification or penalization in the show ring.
Like all cats with the point-restricted gene, Birmans are born white. Their color begins coming in to their cooler extremities when they are a (few) weeks old. As they age, their bodies begin to shade up as well, although never as deeply as the point colors.
The Birman is a moderately large, stocky cat. When viewed in profile, its nose is rounded in shape (referred to as a Roman nose).
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The traditional 4 solid colors are chocolate, seal, blue, and lilac. The solid point colors also include flame (red) and cream. Lynx points colors are these same colors, but in a tabby pattern (classic or mackerel. Finally there are the parti-color points being the traditional point colors mottled with red. (chocolate-tortie, seal-tortie, blue-tortie, and lilac-tortie). The body color for all colors is a warm white, which may shade in as the cat ages as many pointed cats do.
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The Birman is often referred to as "The Sacred Cat of Burma," which is a reference to its supposed beginnings.
A naturally occurring breed, the Birman traces its ancestry back to Burma through France. French breeders developed the breed during the early part of the 1900's. World War II devastated many catteries in Europe and the Birmans were no exception. Breeders outcrossed to reestablish the breed and by the 1960's it was recognized as a distinct breed by registries in England and the US.
People not familiar with the breed often confuse its name or its appearance with other breeds. It should not be mistaken for:
* a Burmese (a short-haired cat, often dark brown)
* a Himalayan (division of the Persian breed, also in the same colors, but having the flat face of a Persian and solid colored feet)
* a Siamese (a shorthaired pointed cat)
* a Ragdoll (another longhaired cat having point-restricted coloring, but very different in coat, body and head structure)
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All cats born within the calendar year are by tradition named with that year's letter and years proceeding in alphabetical order (this is also true for the other breed with French beginnings, the Chartreux). Breeders must often get very creative with names when some years (such as "U") come up.
The Birman is a moderately active cat and prefers the company of its people and of other animals. It is relatively quiet and very affectionate.
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Tradition has it that Kittah Mun-Ha lived in the temple at Mount Lugh with the other priests and 100 white cats with golden eyes. He served the sapphire-eyed goddess Tsun Kyan-Kse who presided over the transmigration of souls, and allowed the priests departed spirits to live in animal bodies until they were reborn into holy perfection.
One night, the temple was attacked and Mun-Ha wounded. His faithful cat Sinh laid on Mun-Ha’s chest and faced the temple’s statue of the Goddess. As the priest died, Sinh’s coat took on the Goddess’ golden glow and his eyes became her sapphire ones. His feet and extremities became the color of the earth, but remained pure white where he remained in contact with the dying priest.
Sinh died 7 days later and when the priests convened to declare a new head priest, they discovered that all the temple cats had become golden colored with white feet and they indicated the successor. Tradition also has it that these cats then carried the souls of all the temple priests away to paradise.
The tradition of the Birman also includes a necklace of 9 bells, traditional in Burmese temples. It is said that the original Birmans exported were wearing necklaces of 9 bells.
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